The thought of travel can make your heart pump faster in anticipation of the many wonderful possibilities and exciting prospects you’re about to experience. In order to have a wonderful holiday somewhere far from home, however, you need to go prepared. That means having all the necessary clothes, toiletries, medicines, sports gear and appropriate apparel, etc. packed, but without you lugging extremely heavy stuff around terminals and airports or having to pay more for the extra weight.
Seasoned travelers may have an easier time packing after so many travels, but they too have learned by suffering the brunt of their mistakes in the past. Well, you don’t have to go through the “eye of the needle” this time; there are “pro packers” who are willing to share some packing tips.
Tara Donaldson shares with you some invaluable packing tips in the article she wrote for CNN – News/Money Section entitled Best Case Scenario: Pro Packing Tips for Stress-free Travel.
Choosing a suitcase can be an adventure in itself.
Packing it properly with just the right contents is an art form.
Get it right and your vacation will be a joy of lightened luggage containing just the right outfits.
Get it wrong and it’ll be a misery of excess baggage charges, strained back muscles and cursing at the bewildering logic that led you to pack 17 pairs of shoes for a barefoot beach trip.
There are a basic set of lessons to packing like a pro.
At this point, she shares with the readers a 10-step guide. The first five are:
- Bag the right bag: To end the debate about which is preferable a carry-on or check-in bag, think of what can fit in the overhead compartment. Regardless of whether you go for the protective benefit of the hard-shell suitcase or the flexibility of a pliable of soft side bags, the more important concerns are the design, weight and durability. Bags that have smart compartments, with a section for your gadgets, and weigh under 3 kilograms or about 6 pounds are practical and security-line friendly. Check the dimensions allowed in airlines for carry-on to pick the right one: 22 x 14 x 9 (inches) or 56 x 36 x 23 (centimeters).
- Compression is key: If you don’t have compression bag, it is time to check out one. These are designed to fit clothes good for a week’s wear or two. After packing everything in, all you need to do is push all the air out so it comes really a compact fitting carry-on bag.
- Make duds do double duty: “Curation” of clothes is smart. Think of “double-duty” dressing. By using neutrals as a foundation, adding some colors can be done when choosing pieces that can be mixed and matched. Using this strategy, a week’s worth of outfits can be expanded into two weeks.
- Go sans wrinkles: Go for fabrics that are wrinkle-free so you’ll still look well-groomed without having to iron your clothes or spend extra for the service.
- Pack backup: Usually, it’s practical to have an extra foldable tot bag just in case you buy some souvenirs or clothes during the holiday. Make this a lightweight and expandable.
Another savvy to reduce your stuff to pack is by bringing only three pairs of footwear. Wear the bulkiest one, have a dress pair and another practical pair for walking. Use small items like socks to stuff in these shoes to avoid getting them deformed.
Take notewthat you are allowed to bring on board a carry-on and a personal bag to put in a change of clothes. Choose bigger ones to have an extra room for more luggage, but make sure these will easily fit under the seat.
Gadgets with their apps have just upped their “value/uses” when traveling, but you don’t need too many gadgets to survive. Pick the best ones, then leave the rest behind.
Most hotels provide toiletries and certain personal items; you don’t need to bring those unless you have certain allergies or sensitivities.
Finally, make sure your travel documents and cash are safe while “on the road.” There are certain technologies that can do just that such as the iPassport launched in the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is cleverly provided with a biometric lock, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Bluetooth smart tethering technology to sync it with a smartphone for tracking if lost or stolen.
Packing for a long holiday can be both fun and stressful as you try and figure out how to fit everything in such a small suitcase or a few bags. The “what-ifs” can cause you to overpack. Making a list, planning your activities, throwing in a few extras and using these savvy tips are all you need to pack “just enough.” Think about i!
